Calling on any of the Docs. Or those who have had shingles.

[rareboy]

As you may have heard from my whining starting last July, I ended up with shingles in my left eye and back across my head.

I had constant headaches and bad, bad pain for about 127 days.

Since that, though, I have had post herpetic neuralgia with an almost const dull aching pain in the back of my skull and a line of pain from my eye right back to the base of my skull.

Lyrica just made me totally stupid.

Recently I have had more constant and acute pain to the point where it affects my ability to focus. to concentrate, to even finish a sentence when I am speaking.

I have had to turn to Tylenol 3 at least once a day...which for me is not great. I don't want to use them except for their original purpose.

Is there any alternative that you might have run across to keep you alert and sane but to just stop the fucking pain for at least an hour or two?

 

[zoltanspawn]

I had shingles several months ago. At first, I tried to just deal with the pain like a brute. For like, one day. Then I was on the phone to the doctor and he prescribed gabapentin, which apparently works on the nerves themselves. I thought it was terrific, and didn't notice any side effects. Happily, the nerve pain only lasted for about three weeks in total. Shingles pain uniquely sucks; I'm sorry to hear you're suffering from the post-herpetic crap, and am delighted I escaped it. (I'm going to ask about getting the shingrix vaccine next time I see a doc, too. No desire to have a repeat.)

P.s. for everybody, who like me, thought (thinks) they're too young to get shingles. No you're not, and it hurts like fuck. Get the vaccine.

 

[Rockinron]

I was at a low immunity point, and lost crappy job, living Solo away from family.
I was 54 and got hit on rt butt cheek and thigh.

The only way to know the pain, is to live thru it.

The Nerve Pain did not subside when rash and blisters cleared.

Am 5.5 years post attack, and still have major burning pain, that is 24/7/365.

Fortunate to live in Oregon, where I can use Cannabis to deal with Neuropathy.

Hoping your case does not hang around!

 

[unloadonme]

I had shingles a couple of years ago, mainly on my backside and thigh. Luckily it was caught early and the doc prescribed acyclovir which I took religiously. I had a rash, slight soreness and a bit of backache, but nothing I would describe as pain. I was back at work within a week and the symptoms completely cleared up within a week or two more. I realise, of course, that shingles can be much worse and that I got off lightly.

Everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen don't really touch serious pain. The prescription only stuff like tramadol is more effective, but can virtually knock you out in the process. If I was still in pain after so long, I'd ask to be referred to the pain clinic at the hospital. I'd heard that pregabalin was good for nerve pain, but Google tells me that that's another name for Lyrica, so I'll stop there.

 

[cityboy-stl]

The worst thing I ever had was shingles; that was about 20 years ago. I've gone into the details before. But I'll take time now to put in a plug for the shingles vaccine. Even if you've had shingles, you can get it again and you get the vaccine. There is a newer, more effective vaccine available now.

People...shingles is miserable and the after effects can last a looooong time!!!

GET THE VACCINE! YOU DO NOT WANT SHINGLES.

 

[Latimer]

A female client of mine, 50 yrs old got shingles. Her doctor gave her the shingles vaccine, believing it would decrease the severity and length of the outbreak. It worked. I think she recovered in about a week.

 

[medic1]

I used to have a patient who swore that using acupuncture and reflexology did help her pain considerably.